Theatralite et romanesque dans l'oeuvre d'a. R. Lesage
Institution:
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Abstract EN:
As a prolific novelist and playwright, lesage is a well-informed and amused observer of the belles lettres. His observation of the literary society draws on this double experience, with a satirical purpose far more distinct in his writings on the theatre. His experience as a dramatic writer at the comedie francaise and above all at the theatre de la foire is however of great use to the novelist. By setting the main plot of le diable boiteux in a nocturnal madrid seen through the eyes of the devil and the scholar, lesage substitutes a voyeur for the traditional narrator, which means that the angle of vision is no longer that of the normal confrontation to be found in the italian theatre, but a view from above. Thus lesage gives new life, significantly, to the narrative process, now conceived on the pattern of a playlet. The playwright hides behind the moralist. His theatre conveys metaphorical meanings and makes it possible to expose a society for which only appearances matter. Disguise, misappropriation of food and false names partake of this widespread delusion. The theme varies according to social background. Clothes , whether they are disguise or theft, help transform appearances and thus make it easy to usurp roles. Being a probationary stage in the development of an individual, they help him master social behaviour. As a novelist lesage used a range of techniques which he borrowed, to a large extent, from the picaresque tradition. In order to introduce some variety in the limited fictional material provided by autobiographical narratives, he used two devices : on the one hand, he diversified the nature of the episodes the lower-class hero goes through as he climbs the social ladder; on the other hand, he introduced new heroes thanks to embedded stories. Because of its very success, lesage's work of fiction has given rise to numerous illustrated editions published in his lifetime. Though they are definitely not great artists, the illustrators are skilful and humble craftsmen, sometimes anonymous, who are constantly eager to give a clear and accurate account of the text of which they are only the servants.
Abstract FR:
Romancier et dramaturge prolixe, lesage est un observateur avise et amuse des belleslettres. L'observation des milieux litteraires s'inspire de cette double experience, l'intention satirique est toutefois plus nettement marquee dans le temoignage sur le theatre. Mais l'experience du dramaturge aupres de la comedie-francaise et plus encore du theatre de la foire est au service du romancier. En situant l'action principale du diable boiteux dans un madrid nocturne livre aux yeux du diable et de l'ecolier, lesage remplace le traditionnel narrateur par un voyeur. De frontal, dans le theatre a l'italienne, le regard devient alors surplombant. Il renouvelle, ainsi, de maniere significative la narration concue sur le modele d'une saynete. Le dramaturge s'efface devant le moraliste. Le theatre se charge alors de sens metaphoriques, il permet la denonciation d'une societe sensible seulement aux apparences. Le travestissement du corps, l'appropriation de la nourriture et les falsifications patronymiques participent a ce mensonge generalise. Le theme varie selon les appartenances sociales. Le vetement, sous son double aspect de transgression, deguisement ou vol, aide a la transformation des apparences et facilite ainsi l'usurpation des roles. Etape probatoire dans la formation de l'individu, il prepare a la maitrise des comportements sociaux. Lesage romancier a exploite un ensemble de procedes romanesques empruntes pour l'essentiel a la tradition picaresque. Deux possibilites s'ouvrent a lui pour varier le materiau romanesque que limite necessairement le recit autobiographique : d'une part, diversifier la nature des episodes vecus par le heros roturier autour d'une ascension sociale, d'autre part, changer de heros, grace a l'enchassement d'histoires secondaires. En raison meme de son succes, l'oeuvre romanesque de lesage a donne naissance a de nombreuses editions illustrees de son vivant. A defaut d'etre de grands artistes, les illustrateurs sont de bons et humbles executants, parfois anonymes, soucieux de rendre constamment compte, avec precision et clarte, du texte dont ils sont les simples servants.